(The following article by Jonathan Lucas was published in the Stamford Advocate on April 25.)
STAMFORD — Commuters are being hit financially on all fronts and last night said the proposed 15 percent fare increase on Connecticut Metro-North Railroad trains could force them to add more traffic to Interstate 95.
“You need to take into consideration the total cost of what people are paying,” said Jeff Northcutt, a commuter from Stamford who said the costs of higher train fares, subway fares, parking fees and a potential commuter tax has him looking for work in Westchester County, N.Y., so he can drive rather than take the train.
“This is just one more expense to us that is just unbearable,” said Paula Corrado, an infrequent commuter from Greenwich. “The state of Connecticut already raised fares through that horrible tax package that raised taxes on clothing, newspapers and real estate transactions.”
The last of three scheduled public hearings on the proposed fare hike at Stamford Government Center drew about 20 people. Commuters complained about poor service and dirty conditions and urged the state to rethink its transportation policy.
“I don’t know if you guys have cauliflower in your ears or what, but you don’t listen,” said Antoinette Bolling, a Greenwich resident actively opposing Gov. John Rowland’s proposal to open breakdown lanes on I-95 to rush-hour traffic and has been critical of the policies of the state Department of Transportation. “If you want less cars on the thruway, then lower the damn fare.”
Bolling, who does not commute, also is calling for the reinstatement of tolls on I-95 to raise revenue for more mass transit.
Commuters said savings from automated ticket vending machines and increasing ridership should produce enough revenue to offset the need for a fare increase. They said the railroad also needs to be more vigilant in collecting fares on board trains.
“There’s nothing more irritating than to read about fare increases and see some people getting free rides,” said Barbara Jacobs of Stamford.
Amy Lamborn, a commuter from New Canaan, said the fares are already too high for what travelers get.
“If you increase fares, you should make the whole thing more appealing,” Lamborn said. “Now it’s kind of a drag. You just do it because you have to.”
Lamborn and others called for cleaner cars and more trains to alleviate overcrowding on many peak-hour trains.
Metro-North President Peter Cannito did not speak at the public hearing, but afterward said commuters raised legitimate concerns about the condition of the rail cars.
“The trains need work,” Cannito said, noting that most of the fleet is 30 years old and beyond its life expectancy. “We’re attempting to address those concerns by replacing windows and seats, but it’s still too early to see those benefits, but they will.”
Some commuters, such as Dan Lombardi of Stamford, asked why no elected officials showed up for the meeting and others said they were offended that the state board representing commuter interests approved the fare increase without listening to what commuters say at the public hearings.
The Connecticut Metro North-Shore Line East Rail Commuter Council reluctantly endorsed the 15 percent fare hike at a meeting Wednesday night.
“That smacks of arrogance,” said Richard Stowe, a commuter from New Canaan who also raised questions about Metro-North’s parent organization, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The MTA allegedly used fraudulent accounting for nearly $500 million in surplus funds to bolster its case for subway and bus fare hikes in New York City.
“We’re operating in a cloud of darkness here in Connecticut,” Stowe said. “The Connecticut Department of Transportation should look to the Legislature and the attorney general should look into investigating what is going on with the MTA.”
After the meeting, Harry Harris, chief of the DOT’s bureau of public transportation, said the questions being raised about the MTA’s finances do not affect Connecticut because there are no questions about the cost of service.
Ed Vrooman, a member of the MTA board, also attended last night’s meeting and said the allegations being raised by New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi and New York City Comptroller William Thompson are a publicity stunt.
“I find what they’re saying annoying because it misleads the public and it’s not helpful,” Vrooman said.